DETERMINING ANTLION SPECIES DIVERSITY IN GWINNETT COUNTY USING GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE CO1 GENE **

Authors

Kassiel N. Serrano Rocha*, Georgia Gwinnett College 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043Follow
Madelyn D. Yaceczko*, Georgia Gwinnett College 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043Follow
Mark A. Schlueter, Georgia Gwinnett College 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043Follow
Patrick W. Cain, Georgia Gwinnett College 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, GA 30043Follow

Abstract

Antlions, also known as doodle bugs (Family: Myrmeleontidae), are insects found around the world, including Gwinnett County, Georgia. Antlion larvae are ambush predators that build pits in the sand to capture their prey. Their main food source is ants and other small prey that fall into the antlion's pits. There are approximately 100 or more antlion species in North America. The main goal of the project is to determine the various species present in Gwinnett County, Georgia with genetic analysis using the CO1 gene. It is hypothesized, based on morphological differences, that there are at least three distinct species existing in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Through the use of DNA analysis, we will investigate the DNA sequences of the antlions we have collected in order to differentiate the species. This data will be correlated to characteristics collected in another study which focuses on principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) analysis of the morphological features of antlions.

Recommended Citation

Serrano Rocha*, Kassiel N.; Yaceczko*, Madelyn D.; Schlueter, Mark A.; and Cain, Patrick W. (2019) "DETERMINING ANTLION SPECIES DIVERSITY IN GWINNETT COUNTY USING GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE CO1 GENE **," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 77, No. 1, Article 77.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol77/iss1/77